The legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte is under scrutiny after prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) asked the court to clarify the status of several Filipino lawyers mentioned during a recent hearing.
In a document dated March 6 and later released to the public, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang asked ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I to determine whether six lawyers introduced during Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing are officially members of the former president’s defense team.
The lawyers named were Salvador Medialdea, Salvador Panelo, Martin Delgra, Silvestre Bello, Alfredo Lim Jr., and Cesar Dulay.
According to the prosecution, Duterte’s counsel mentioned the lawyers while presenting the defense team during the hearing, which created the impression that they were part of the legal group representing the former president before the ICC.
However, prosecutors said they had earlier been informed that these individuals were not members of the defense team.
“These statements have created the impression that the six lawyers are members of Mr. Duterte’s defense team before the ICC,” the prosecution said in its filing.
Niang also emphasized that under Regulation 23bis(2) of the court’s rules, information related to the case is confidential and accessible only to the defense, prosecution, and the court registry.
The prosecution said it had emailed Duterte’s counsel on February 25 seeking clarification on the roles of the six lawyers, but the defense allegedly declined to provide a response.
The prosecutors requested the chamber to direct the defense to formally confirm that the six lawyers are not part of Duterte’s legal team and that they have not received and will not receive any confidential information related to the case.
The prosecution also asked the court to ensure that the individuals do not have access to non-public filings, restricted information, or privileged communications with Duterte at the ICC detention facility.
Duterte is currently facing three counts of crimes against humanity before the ICC over his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
